A recent study evaluated the degree to which chiropractic teaching clinics adhered to appropriate radiography (x-ray) practice guidelines for low back pain. In screening more than 1,200 consecutive patients presenting with a new episode of low back pain at a chiropractic college's out-patient teaching clinics, information was collected to determine if proper accepted practice guidelines were followed in the decision to take x-rays. According to the researchers, "The results suggest a strong adherence to radiography guidelines for patients with a new episode of low back pain who presented to chiropractic teaching clinics."

New research shows yoga to be a safe and significantly beneficial prescription for chronic heart failure patients. When compared to medical therapy alone, chronic heart failure patients who simultaneously participated in an 8-week yoga program experienced a 26 percent reduction in quality of life related symptoms as compared with just 3-percent in those undergoing medical therapy alone. Moreover, those participating in yoga had significant decreases in blood inflammatory markers. Thus, yoga was able to provide both a significant physical and quality of life related benefit to the patient.

A new cancer report 5 years in the making was just released by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund. The report was based on the review of approximately 7,000 research studies. Below are the 10 recommendations the report lists for cancer prevention:

Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.

Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.

Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, or low in fiber, or high in fat).

Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.

It is best for mothers to breast feed exclusively for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods.

After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention.

Lastly, researchers also stated, "And always remember – do not smoke or chew tobacco." Given the above recommendations, it's unfortunate that the report states, "Americans are increasingly likely to attribute cancer to factors over which they have no control, and for which no proven links to the disease exist." Researchers also believe that cancer is a product of the above as well as other bad habits sustained over the long-term. Given these findings, most of us may very well be in control of something many of us feel we have no control over, our own cancer risk.

New research indicates women who gain weight during their adult stages of life increase their risk of acquiring breast cancer. This research comes from a study involving almost 100,000 women whose weight was noted at ages 18, 35, 50 and their current age. According to study findings, the average woman gained approximately 34 pounds over their adult life with only 8 percent of women actually maintaining their weight through adulthood. Women who gained weight, were overweight or became obese were also more likely to suffer from a more advanced form of breast cancer. Additionally, the weight gain to breast cancer risk relationship appears to be similar throughout adulthood. In other words, gaining weight at anytime during adulthood posses a similar risk. The latest US statistics estimate approximately 178,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,000 deaths will occur from breast cancer this year.